Oildale businesses worry 'sweepstakes cafe' will set up shop

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Some Oildale shop owners are worried about what will open up in a now-closed medical marijuana dispensary. One merchant has heard it will house a so-called "sweepstakes cafe," and he thinks that would bring crime and problems to the area.

"These guys come in here, and it'll just ruin it," TJ Esposito told Eyewitness News on Tuesday. He owns Happy Hydro just north of the big white building at 1704 N. Chester Ave. That site has been vacant since Measure G passed, the county ordinance restricting locations for medical marijuana dispensaries.

"I caught the property manager out in the parking lot and was talking to him about the new other business coming in," Esposito said. "He told me it's going to be a new Internet cafe."

Eyewitness News is trying to reach the property owner to verify who the new tenant will be.

Esposito said he wants anything except an Internet café.

"I've done my research," he said. Esposito said a friend has a business in another area with an Internet café next door, and it's been nothing but trouble. He worries about drug use by café customers and other problems.

Last summer his office filed civil action against nine facilities and the local courts issued a preliminary injunction ordering them to stop running the sweepstakes games. But other cafes have stayed open, and more have started up.

Esposito said the Oildale business area has worked hard to make improvements, like the landscaping on North Chester.

In that area, Eyewitness News heard from one nearby shop owner who said he has no problems with a possible Internet café. Another business spokesman said they want to be sure the area has a positive environment. And one business owner said he's heard of problems at other Internet cafes, adding getting one on North Chester would "definitely be bad news."

At Chester and China Grade Loop a sweepstakes café is open for business. In that shopping center, one nearby business said café customers have caused problems for them, but others said they've seen no effects.

Esposito is still worried.

"They haven't even opened yet, I just want to really be proactive," he said. Esposito is looking for help, and said he contacted his county supervisor. He got a call back from Mike Maggard's office and they asked him questions about the situation, he said.

Maggard's staff told Eyewitness News they are in touch with sheriff officials who are investigating Internet cafes, adding in this situation nothing has opened yet.

Esposito said he also contacted Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood on Facebook.

"He posted on there," Esposito said. "He's frustrated, he doesn't like them either, but there's nothing they can do about it because they're waiting on a court ruling."

Deputy D.A. Greg Pulskamp has told Eyewitness News his office is working on their case against the nine sweepstakes cafes, and five of them have filed legal challenges with the appeals court.

Esposito is convinced the operations amount to illegal gambling.

"They disguise it by selling cell phone minutes, snacks, stuff like that," he argues. Some Internet cafes have told Eyewitness News the games are just a marketing tool.